The Hurst City Council voted to authorize the city manager to proceed with removing the remaining 1996-era slides at the Central Aquatic Center and to repurpose nearby deck and receiving pools into seating and landscaping. City staff told the council the structures — a tower slide and three berm slides installed in 1996 — have recurring fiberglass failures, failing pool plaster and an aging ultraviolet sanitation system that is difficult to repair because parts are no longer manufactured.

Kyle, speaking for Parks and Recreation staff, said the city has spent about $120,000 on repairs since 2022 and faced an immediate set of repair needs this year: an estimated $30,000–40,000 for custom fiberglass repairs, $50,000 for a replacement UV sanitizer unit, about $25,000 to replaster the receiving pool and roughly $10,000 to repair a cracking deck where the slide catch pool joins the pool shell. Staff recommended removing the old 1996 equipment rather than continuing recurring emergency repairs.

Staff presented attendance numbers as part of the rationale: Central Aquatic Center saw about 13,000 visits in a pre-pandemic season and about 7,600 in the most recent season — a roughly 40% decline — while another city pool (Chisholm) is recording rising attendance. Staff and a consultant concluded Central could be better programmed as a smaller family-oriented aquatic facility and preserve newer amenities added in 2017.

The project budget presented to the council included a Sunbelt Pools contract for $247,536, a landscape allowance of $32,000, a contingency (presented as $15,000), and modest bonding/permit allowances. Staff proposed funding by reappropriating existing park funds and facility reserves (the presentation listed specific account balances: Vivogene/Copeland Park project funds and tennis center renovation balances totaling roughly $300,000 available to reallocate). Staff said the work could be completed over the winter and spring and be ready for the 2026 season.

Council discussed repair-versus-replace estimates: staff reported a new tower slide would cost roughly $350,000–$450,000 and a set of berm slides $250,000–$350,000, making full replacement materially more expensive than removal and reprogramming. Members of the parks board were briefed in August and generally supported the staff recommendation.

Council approved the project by motion. The motion authorized the city manager to proceed with removal and related site work with approved city contractors, funded by reallocated park/facility funds and reserves. Staff said newer equipment installed in 2017 would remain and be preserved.

The council directed staff to proceed with the removal and site restoration as described, and to return with any needed contract details and final accounting as the project moves forward.